Columbus North High School
Step 1: Choosing a Project
Step 2: Proposal Approval
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Demonstrate skills learned in high
school through reflection and
application of your expertise
Gain a connection to the community
Apply skills learned in the classroom to the
planning and development of your senior
project
Find all senior project info on
these links!
 Proposal
 Paper
 Job
Shadowing
 Service Learning
 Portfolio
 Presentation
January
Proposal Due
January
Research Paper Due in
English Class
Project Completed &
Portfolio Due
April
April
Presentations
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Accepted on projects that can ONLY be
completed during the summer months
Run your idea past Mrs. Cooley to see if it
qualifies for an early approval
If she approves, complete required proposal
paperwork
Present early proposal on:
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Choose a project based on your interests,
showcasing your knowledge and skills
Choose a project that is a “stretch,”
demonstrating your ability to extend yourself
beyond your existing skills and experiences
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Take risks, challenge yourself, step outside
your comfort zone
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Find a tie-in with the community
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What am I passionate about?
What career(s) am I interested in pursuing?
Which community organization could use my
skills and expertise?
What have been my favorite classes in high
school?
How can I tie my senior project together with
the skills and experiences I learned in high
school?
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Remember, you must complete a minimum of
15 hours (20 hours to eligible for
Outstanding) on the project with at least half
of the hours spent working and not
planning the project
◦ Example: With a 15 hour project, 8 hours must be
spent on the project with a maximum of 7 hours
planning the project.
◦ You may not work on your project during school
hours or while school is in session.
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Projects that include fund raising:
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Projects dependent on good weather
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Projects that take place in March
◦ Too dependent on your ability to
market your project
◦ Too dependent on who shows up and how much
they give
◦ Students often spend more money than they make!
◦ This cuts too close to the presentation
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Take a talent, skill, or passion that you have
and find someone in the community that
needs your help in that area.
Find a community organization that needs
help and offer your services in an area that
will showcase your talents and abilities.
Identify a skill you would like to learn and
find someone in the community who would
benefit from you learning that new skill.
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Organize an Event or Group
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Directing the play Steele Magnolias
Coordinated mission projects for church
Teen mom support group
Summer gardening for senior citizens
Organized Senior Project fair at CNHS ***
Brought Invisible Children of Uganda to CNHS
Organized Angel Tree Christmas gifts at church
Organized book drive at St. B’s for BCPL
Art for the elderly at Keepsake Village
Clean Your Closet for Orphan Grain Train
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Construct or Build
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Create a website for a community organization
Repair or improve an existing school facility
Build a flight cage for Utopia Wildlife
Create social media connection for a local mission
Design poster/advertising for community event
Create video for freshman orientation at CNHS
Repair basketball goal in local apartment complex
Convert closet into a bathroom for local organization
Complete home maintenance for two elderly families
Create a history scrapbook for CNHS gymnastics
Provide routine auto maintenance for low
income families
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Coach/Teach
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Mentor 4th graders in a math after school program
Teach special needs class to build cardboard boat
Teach Chinese to a Girl Scout Troop
Free clarinet classes to middle school musicians
Teach a three day journalism workshop
Teach dance at Foundation For Youth
Teach pottery at Busy Bees Academy
Coach 12 yr old volleyball team to combat obesity
Coach soccer for physically disabled kids
Coach a cheer squad at Parkside
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Learn a New Skill & Teach/Demonstrate to Others
◦ Examples: Learn to quilt, play a musical instrument,
kickbox, lose weight, train for a 5K for the first time, etc.
◦ After learning the skill, teach, demonstrate, or donate
your newly learned skill in the community. Examples:
 Donate your quilt to the elderly
 Play your instrument during a church service
 Run in a charity 5K and collect pledges for the charity
 Teach a group of preschoolers the basics of kickboxing
 Mentor an adolescent who wants to lose weight
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Proposal Brief Form
Extended Proposal Form (typed)
Mentor Acceptance Form
Parent Approval of
Community Mentor Form
Facility Usage Form (if applicable)
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Define the focus of the project
Define goals to attain by
project’s completion
Provide a rough outline for project’s
completion
Identify expenses
Identify “artifacts” to include in portfolio
Confirm your mentor’s identity
Identify benefit to the community
Identify the “learning stretch” this
project provides you
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Clarify your project’s vision
◦ Complete the first draft of your
Extended Proposal Form
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Select your Community Mentor
◦ Community Mentors must meet the following
criteria:
 Must be at least 21 years of age
 Must be knowledgeable or experienced in field of
interest
 Parent(s) must sign the parental mentor approval
form. so parent(s) must approve of the mentor.
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Has knowledge/experience in your topic area
Willing and able to provide support and
guidance through completion of project
Is a support person, not an organizer,
director, or manager. YOU ARE IN THE LEAD!
Recommended you meet with mentor at least
five times (see suggested meeting agenda handout)
Complete all required paperwork
 Get required signatures
 Ask for help when needed
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◦ Mentor
◦ Bull dog Time Teacher (or other teachers)
◦ Parents
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Present proposal
◦ During Class
◦ Deadline for Proposal: January 23rd
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Participate in an informal conversation with a
panel of two or three teachers
Describe your entire project and plans for
completion
Answer the panel’s clarifying questions
Receive Feedback: Positive aspects and
possible areas of improvement
Revise your proposal if necessary
and present revision to your
panel leader
 Will
be completed in English
class during 1st semester
 Must earn a passing grade
 Must keep paper and
completed rubric from teacher
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DO IT!
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Don’t put it off!
2
Different Places
 5 hours total
 At least 2 hours at each
location
 2 separate written
summaries of 250 words
each
 Minimum
of 10 total
hours
 Can be split among
different locations
 500 word summary of
your experience
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Ring Binder
 Dividers
 Bull Dog time teacher
check-off sheet (I check it off)
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Blank Binder Due Thursday January 15th
(35 pts. binder, 15 pts. for dividers)
 8-10
minutes speech
 Prefer a visual (PowerPoint,
poster etc.)
 Organized with Introduction,
Past (background), Present,
Future of your project